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Tobacco Use Prevention
301-475-4346 and 301-475-4074
The St. Mary's County Tobacco Use Prevention program includes community education, school-based education, enforcement of tobacco sales laws, monitoring of underage youth tobacco use, and cessation programs for smokers who want to quit. These activities are funded through the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Cigarette Restitution Fund.
The goal of our program is to reduce tobacco use among St. Mary’s County residents. We hope to accomplish this by educating residents about the health risks associated with tobacco use and secondhand smoke, enforcing Maryland’s Tobacco Sale to Youth Laws, and providing smoking cessation programs throughout the year. Call the health department to request a display or presentation for your school, place of business, organization or group function.Need help quitting? Click here to find out more about St. Mary’s County’s FREE smoking cessation classes!
Did You Know?
Lung cancer accounts 28.5% for all cancer deaths in Maryland. It is the leading cause of death in men and women. Maryland has the 18th highest mortality rate for lung cancer among the states and the District of Columbia. (Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Cancer Report 2006)
Together, federal and state expenditures to pay for medical care made necessary by tobacco use are costing each Maryland household $590 in additional income tax each year. (Maryland Tobacco Survey, 2007)
Secondhand smoke contains more than 250 toxins and cancer-causing chemicals, such as carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, arsenic, benzene, and lead (Smoke Free Maryland).
Nearly every adult who smokes (almost 90 percent) took his or her first puff at or before the age of 18 (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids).
29.8% of households in St. Mary’s County with minor children have at least one adult who smokes cigarettes (Maryland Tobacco Survey, 2006).
16.1% under-age youth who live with an adult tobacco smoker are current tobacco smokers. (Maryland Tobacco Survey, 2006).
Each day, about 4,000 kids try their first cigarette (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids).
1.9% of pregnant women in St. Mary's County use tobacco products (Maryland Tobacco Survey, 2006).
In the state of Maryland, it is illegal to sell tobacco products, including cigarettes to youth under the age of 18 (Smoke Free Maryland).
Staff Contact
Jane Dodds, RN
301-475-4074
Maryland Tobacco Quitline
1-800-QUIT NOW
Call for a free service for Marylanders provided by the Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene to help smokers in quitting tobacco. Quit Coaches are standing by.
Links
